Title: One Thing (aka Everything You... part 2)
Author: Noa
Previously: It's time for the annual ER banquet, and John makes a
confession to Deb.
Spoiler: Tiny mention of episode 2, season 8 event, but other then
that, no spoiler at all.
Time line: Somewhere between season 7 and 8.
Rating: I dunno... PG-13?
Archive: Oh, please do just let me know where...
Feedback: YES! Sharlot12@h...
Thanks/Dedication: Blair, my LLT, for waiting so long. ;)
All the Jinters at FF, for inspiring me, and not letting me lose hope.
Kee, my dear, for beta reading. You rock.
Disclaimer: They belong to NBC/John Wells/whatever. All of 'em. I
just take them, use 'em, and ditch 'em. Yes, like a true bitch. ;)

++++++

"You're kidding."

"Why would I?"

"I don't know... I just..."

"Don't believe it?"

"Well, yeah..."

He looked at her, waiting for her to continue. After several moments
of silence, he asked "Why?"

"I don't know, I just... I never guessed."

"You don't know everything, Abby," he said with a soft smile.

"Guess so."

+++

Silence. He hated that silence. Yes, silence could be good on some
occasions. Sometimes you just wanted to be left alone. And alone
usually meant silence, where you could think things over, and not be
disturbed. Sometimes you needed that silence.

But this time wasn't one of them. Damn, he needed her to say ?
something-. Anything. She could say she hated him. Say that he
shouldn't fall for her. That she won't ever be interested in him as
more then a friend. That she ?doesn't- even want to be his friend
anymore.

Anything she said would be better then this damn silence that drove
him crazy.

"John..."

That wasn't much... But at least she said something. And she didn't
run away, that was a good sign, wasn't it?

Or maybe... Maybe she was just teasing him, wanting to see his
reaction. But Deb wasn't like that. Even when she had something harsh
to say... She always said it so nicely, that you completely forgot
that it ?was- harsh. That was part of her charm, and one of the
things that made him fall for her, back in medical school days. Only,
he didn't want to admit it until now. It was too hard... And then
there was Abby. It might've taken him some time to realize, but he
eventually confessed that he didn't ?really- love her.

"I... I... I don't... Know what to say."

He let out a nervous chuckle, "I guess that's better then the
response I was expecting..."

"What were you? Expecting, that is."

He let out another nervous chuckle. Seemed like he had found himself
a new way to relieve stress. "That you'd say you hate me... Want me
out of your life... Something like that..."

She turned around so she was now facing his body. His goddamn
beautiful body. "Hey," Deb said, taking John's hand in hers, and
whispered, "Never."

"Deb..." he said gently as he turned to face her.

"Shhh..." she said, putting the index finger of her free hand on his
mouth. "Let me talk, okay?"

He nodded. Heck, even if he ?wanted-, he wouldn't be able to talk
now. Just the feel of her finger on his mouth, her hand in his... Why
did he wait so long? Denial. Yes, he could always blame denial for
keeping him from telling her anything.

"I gotta admit... I was a bit shocked when you... said it was me. I
never thought you meant me when I asked you about Abby before...
Yeah, I hoped," his face lit up with a smile when she said it, but he
let her continue. "But I figured it was false hope. You never really
gave me any sign we were, or will be, more then just friends... And
now... Now that you said that... Now that I know it ?wasn't- just a
false hope... There's just one thing I want to do."

He looked at her worriedly, fearing he might've just dreamt all she
said right now...

But her next move proved him wrong. She stood on her toes, until she
was close enough for him. "This," she said, and closed down the space
between their faces, meeting his soft lips.

He released his hand from hers, and wrapped both of his arms around
her tiny, perfect waist, holding her as close to him as possible. ?
She- was kissing him. Out of her own free will, without him driving
her into this, -she- was kissing ?him-. In his wildest dreams, he
never thought this day would come. Deb Chen was kissing him. Not
because he told her, not because she had to... Because she ?wanted-
to.

Her hands easily found their way up his back, finally stopping at his
neck, which she held on to, afraid to let him go. She teased his lips
with her tongue, until he gladly opened his mouth, inviting her in.
Their tongues danced for some moments that seemed way too short for
both, until Deb pulled away slightly, leaning her forehead against
John's.

"May I just say... Wow?" she asked with a sheepish smile.

"Only if I can say I definitely second you on that," he replied,
chuckling. Only, it wasn't a nervous chuckle now, not at all. He
wasn't nervous anymore. Especially since he knew that no matter how
messed up his life was now, there was at least one thing he could
count on to keep him sane.

Deb.

She nodded, and returned his chuckle. "And I thought I was gonna have
the worst time ever tonight."

He grinned his oh-so-familiar-and-loved grin, "I'm more then glad you
proved you wrong, Deb."

She considered reminding him, for the 635 millionth time since she
came back, that her name was Jing Mei, but decided to shrug it off at
the last minute. She would have plenty of time to lecture him about
her name later; right now, she wanted to enjoy the moment.